Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 To people belong the plans of the heart, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.
1
The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of people are pure in their eyes, but the LORD tests the motives.
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All one's ways may be pure in one's own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
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Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
4 The LORD made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for an evil day.
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The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 The LORD detests all who are arrogant; they surely won't go unpunished.
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All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord; be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt; the fear of the LORD turns away evil.
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By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When people draw favor from the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
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When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great profits without justice.
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Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice.
9 People plan their path, but the LORD secures their steps.
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The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.
10 A king's speech is like an oracle; in a judgment, one can't go against his words.
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Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his doing.
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Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Kings detest wicked deeds, for their thrones are founded on righteousness.
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It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Kings favor those with righteous lips; they love words of integrity.
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Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.
14 The king's anger is a messenger of death; the wise will calm him.
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A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and whoever is wise will appease it.
15 There's life in the light of the king's face. His favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.
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In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold, and acquiring understanding is better than silver.
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How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil; those who protect their path guard their lives.
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The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall.
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Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be humble with the needy than to divide plunder with the proud.
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It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those with insight find prosperity; those who trust the LORD are blessed.
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Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
21 The skilled mind is called discerning, and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
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The wise of heart is called perceptive, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 One who has insight is a fountain of life, but the instruction of the foolish is folly.
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Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it, but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful and enhances the teaching of their lips.
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The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are flowing honey, sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.
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Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 There is a path that may seem straight to someone, but in the end it is the path of death.
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Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way to death.
26 The appetite of workers labors for them, for their hunger presses them on.
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The appetite of workers works for them; their hunger urges them on.
27 Worthless people dig up trouble; their lips are like a scorching fire.
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Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Destructive people produce conflict; gossips alienate close friends.
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A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 Violent people entice their neighbors and walk them down a path that isn't good.
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The violent entice their neighbors, and lead them in a way that is not good.
30 Those who wink their eye plot destruction; those who purse their lips plan evil.
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One who winks the eyes plans perverse things; one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is found on the path of righteousness.
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Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
32 Better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.
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One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
33 The dice are cast into the lap; all decisions are from the LORD.
33
The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord's alone.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.